I have really only had good experiences with health care here.

I had a breast cancer scare not long after moving here and went to a private clinic in Stara Zagora. They were brilliant. Got an appointment that day, had all latest equipment and got told all fine (Thank God) straight away. Have been back since for check ups as was told to go once a year. Cost a whopping 30 levs for all tests. In the UK when I had similar scare had to wait around 4 months for appointment and then couple of weeks after for results. And doctor here spoke better English!!

And have been to good dentist in village not far from me.

Have also experienced the national health care here when ex boyfriend very ill and whilst quite basic, care was good.

That all sounds very reassuring, it was one of the things that I was concerned about, I have read so many bad stories but to be honest this is the first positive thing I had seen since I started my research into BG and also being a woman there are so many things that I was concerned about so thanks again you seem to have so much knowledge and I look forward to reading more from you

sarah

No problem. Of course health service differs from area to area. Stara Zagora is known for good medical care as there is a medical university (and veterinary one) so health care in this area very good. Many private clinics for all sorts.

have to agree with Sarah health care is a major concerne but it's good to hear that someone has had a good experience with it 8)

It is not something I would let worry you unduly. You can get most medicines over the counter here and in all the private clinics the doctors tend to speak some English. I would not bother with medical insurance if moving over here but just pay privately as and when needed.

I have experienced both bad a good services with health care, but as you say it's seems to be different in each Town/City but overall I have to say that the Bulgarian attention to detail as far as health is concerned is very good and no waiting time either, I can remember going for an xray, I went straight in and while I got dressed the doctor went and got my xray for me to see :shock:in the uk I would have waited maybe a couple of hours for the xray to be processed and worse still I may have had to wait weeks for the appointment [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I had an allergic reaction to a sting last week, went to hospital to have it checked, waited about 5 mins to see a specialist and was given an injection and sent home, every thing ok now

Great Service, No one spoke english though, however they were very patient and understanding, and they didnt even charge me for the injection.

Have also visited dentist in same town of Targovishte, She was brilliant and did speak english, prices were very good, paid 30lv for a Filling, which I thought was reasnoble, again no waiting or making appointments weeks in advance

This seems to get better by the minute I am feeling quite good about the Health care in Bulgaria now thanks to all of you


sarah

for those of you who have to go to doctors/dentists/hospitals.could you mayb let us others know the prices u pay,also just on a note if u have moved over here less than 2 years u can apply to have your medical health care contributions u made in uk transfered to BG.

SORRY FORGOT TO SAY when this is completd you get some treatment free,but the main thing is any other medical bill is at a huge discounted price once youve received your medical card here.want more info just ask.ill detail in a longer letter how to go about it all

Having just gone for my annual mamograph I can again say how excellent the service was. 30 levs (been same price for 3 years now) for check up and mamograph. While there I happened to mention that I was due a cervical smear and the doctor took me up stairs to the next floor and I saw another female doctor within 5 minutes. Cost me 30 levs again for smear test. Was given slide to take across to lab a small distance away, waited around 45 minutes for results and got certificate saying all clear there and then.

I have also used dentist - 60 levs for full clean and check up which took around 30 to 40 minutes.

wow ecellent in uk u have that dreaded week or 2 s wait for results.so glad this topic was put up.

There is apparently a brand new private hospital just opened as well in Stara Zagora. Has A & E and all other departments. Not used it and hope not to but good to know it is there. Also large new gynacology hospital and all sorts.

This can only be good news for the region and a sign that the infrastructure is improving which will surely mean better health care for everyone :cheers:

Our first experience of an emergency since we moved here 14 months ago

So what happened at the beginning of last week? Monday started normally with our 13 yr old son going to school. In the afternoon he came home and said he had a sore stomach. We thought it might be a bug or something as he was off his food. He went to bed early that night and on Tuesday morning didn’t feel well enough to go to school and he still had a sore stomach. His appetite had returned, he didn’t have a temperature so even though we considered the possibility of appendicitis we doubted the symptoms were bad enough. By the evening he said it was no worse but the pain had moved to the right of his abdomen!!!!. At 22.00pm he was sick and it was then we decided we had to take him to hospital. It was pretty scary and we had to choose quickly between the public or private hospital here in Bourgas. We chose the private one (LIFE hospital) because we had been told (rightly or wrongly) that if he was admitted to the public one they wouldn’t let a parent stay with him (we were told only 12 years and younger can have a parent stay). We couldn’t face him coping on his own in a foreign hospital. As soon as we arrived at the LIFE hospital he was examined, blood tests taken and appendicitis was confirmed. We were lucky because we had caught it in time and there was no perforation. We were given a double room (so a parent could stay) with private facilities and surgery was scheduled for the next morning. The next day he was in surgery for an hour, all went well and he is recovering at home now. We spent 3 nights in a Bulgarian hospital and the hospital, Doctors and Nurses were excellent and I can’t fault the care he received. We were well fed and looked after the whole time. When we had to pay our bill we were expecting a BIG one, after all this was private. The bill for the operation and stay was £250!!!!!! A further amount had been covered by the Bulgarian insurance system, no idea how much it was. An additional charge was made for a parent of £150 but was well worth it.